harper



Jan. 3, 1933. G. w. HARPER AXLE 3 Sheets-Sheet l Original Filed Aug. l, 1924 Jan. 3, 1933. G. w. HARPER Original Filed Aug. 1, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 3, 1933. Gqw. HARPER AXLE y Original Filed Aug. 1, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 fnl/157121071.' I Gew-gf W lppr,

Reiuued Jan. 3, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE W. HARPER, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE COLUMBIA AXLE COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO AxLE y original No. 1,700,356, dared nay 27, 1930, serial No. 729,505, sied angusti, 1924. 'Application' for reissue led May 14, 1932. `Serial No. 611,422.' j

Thepresent invention, relating, as indicated, to axles, isparticularly directed to a 'self-'f lubricating axle provided with means for jautomatically lubricating bearings in the 5s`driving shaft from the differential housing through the action of the differential driven gear, to ether with means for returning any excess oflubricant delivered to the outermost f these bearings from a point beyond4 the same to such housing, and with means for efectually preventing leakage of any of the lubricant from the forward end of the housing for the driving shaft. To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims. i

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting,however, but one of various mechanicaly forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings F ig. l is a horizontal l central section through the axle and driving shaft therefor;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the front cover plate of .such axle;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation partially in sectlon of said cover plate;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4 -4, Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is av section on the line 5 5, 3;

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6'--6, Flg. 3; and

' Fig. 7 is a section on the line 7--7, Fig. 3.

In rear axles of the general type here illustrated and of the types usually employed in motor vehicles, it has been found to be a matter of considerable difficulty to properly and efficiently Iubricate the forward bearing which is at the greatest distance from the reservoir of lubricant supply in the base of the enlarged central portion of the axle housing, with the result that in some cases these forward bearings fail or become hot from lack of lubrication. Various attempts have been made to overcome this difficulty by leading the oil from the reservoir in the axle housing forwardly through passages to the bearings forthe driving shaft and then returning thisV lubricant againto thehousing, but such axles have been unsatisfactory because at 'times when any excess of lubricant is supplied to the forward bearing it is liable. to pass through the packing and to leal; out from the forward end of the housing for the driving shaft. The present invention is intended to supply an excess amount of lubricant tothe driving shaft bearings and to eil'ectually prevent any such leakage from the forward end of the housing-at suchtimes as any excess of lubricant is supplied to these points. I not only supply an excess amount of lubricant to the forward one of two bearings for the lriv ing s haft, but I return this lubricant to the housing from a point which is beyond this forward bearlng, and 1n this way insuring the passageL of the excess amount of lubricant through the bearing to serre the purpose of washing out any particles of dirt or metal which would otherwise collect in these bearings, and of at all times securing an adequate supply of lubricant at this point.

In Fig. l there is shown an axle housing 1, provided with oppositely extending axle tubes 2, and with an enlarged central portion 3, which is provided with a removable rcar cover plate 4 and a removable front cover plate 5. This construction is well known and need not Ybe described in greater detail.

The front cover plate 5, which carries the double function of a cover and a gear and differential carrier, is constructed to carry the driving shaft 7 and the driving mechanism which operates the axle shafts 6, the inner ends of which are slipped through the hubs of differential cases 40 carried on bearings 30, which are carried inportions 31 of the front cover plate 5. The differential mechanism consists of a driving gearO driving the-pinions 13 which are in mesh with gears 11 and 12 secured to the axle shafts 6, and the operation of such a mechanism is of course, well understood. The driving gear 1() is operated from a driving pinion 9 integral with, or secured to, the inner end of the driving shaft 7, and the driving shaft 'i'l is carried in a forward bearing 15 mounted adjacent to the front end of a tubular extension 8, which is formed as an integral part of the cover plate 5, and in a rea-r bearing 16 mounted ad acent to the inner end of the driving sha These bearings 15 and 16 are spaced b means of a spacing rin or sleeve 32, whic is spaced from the sha provided with a series of openings 25 which admit lubricant tothe interior of this ring, from which point the lubricant may ilow in either direction to lubricate the two bearings 15 and 16, as will 4presently be described.

The driving gear 10 dips into the lubricant,4

of which a considerable quantity is carried in the bottom of the enlarged central portion of the housin This lubricant, being somewhat thick an viscous, clings to the periphery and sides of the gear, and owing to the comparatively low rate of speed of rotation, rarely exceedin 500 R. P. M., at M. P. H., is not quic y thrown off bythe centrifugal force and a great part ofi/that which is thrown oi strikes the walls of the back cover'4 and housing land falls back on the gear, so that the lubricant is carried around on the gear in considerable quantities. I take advantage of this action of the. lubricant and dispose a pocket 45 radially in line with gear 10, to receive a quantity .of the lubricant discharged and wiped from the ear 10 by the lower lip 47 of the pocket 45. e lip 47 extends to within a short distance of the periphery of gear 10, closer than any other part of the mechanism, and since the centrifugal force tends to cause the lubricant to ilow outwardl along the sides of the periphery, there is a ways plenty of lubricant which can be wiped off, even though the lubricant has to be carried around through nearly three-fourths of a revolution of gear 10 before reaching li 47. The upper wall of pocket 45 is forme by recessing the wall 46 of cover plate 5, and the bottom of the ocket opens into chamber 23 so that the lubricant caught in pocket 45 is led into chamber 23, formed alon plate extension 8.

one side of the cover is chamber 23 communicates through assage 24 with openings 25 in spacing mem r 32, and the lubricant is thus led through openings 24 and 25 into the interior of the s acing member 32 around driving shaft 7. T e lubricant then Hows in either direction along throu h the annular` space around the same, lubricating the two beangs 15 and 16 and escaping through these. bearings. The lubricant which asses throu h and around the bearings 16 rains back irectly into the bottom or well of the enlarged central portion of the axle housing, while the lubricant which passes through the bearing 15 ows through an opening 34 in the bottom wall of the-extension 8 and into a conduit 26, which is formed along the `bottom of this extension, and from this conduit back into the enlarged central ortion of the' housing. The flow capacit o lubricant through said bearings is pre erably less 7, and is than the How capacity of said means for supplying lubricant thereto and in this way there is created and maintained an excess of lubricant between said bearings which establishes a pressure assisting in flushing the lubricant through the bearings.

I regard it as essential that the return passage 26 be of at least the same capacity` as the effective passage through the bearing 15 in order that there be an opportunity for all of the lubricant which ilows through this bearing to be returned to the housing. In this way there is no tendency for the lubricant to seek other outlets, as would be the case if the lubricant passing through this bearing had no return through the housing from a point beyond the bearing, or vif the capacity of this return channel were insuiicient to carry all the lubricant, which would then work its way out through the forward end of the extensionron the housing in spite of any packing which might be placed at this point. i

I have found that it is possible to prevent substantially any lubricant from reaching the packing gland at the forward end of the extension of the housing by providing a lubricant-throwing plate 48 which is formed to deect and throw lubricant which may flow through the bearing 15 on to the walls of the extension'8, from which point it flows down and drains back through the return opening 34. This plate 48 is given a very slight clearance circum-ferentially from the wall of the extension 8 and is shaped and disposed so that its outer edge is approximately inline with the forward edge of the opening 34. This plate revolves with the shaft 7 at a fairly high speed and I have found it very affective in preventing any appreciable amount of lubricant from reaching the packing gland at the extreme forward end of the 'extension 8.

The forward end of extension 8 is sealed against the loss of lubricant and the entrance of foreign matter by means of a packing gland 35, consisting of packing material 36 which is held between sheet/metal plates'37 and 38. Plate 38 is in oil-tightcontact with the inner surface of extension 8. .v Thel packing material 36 is in contact withl a spiral groove 39 formed on a sleeve 49 mounted on driving shaft 7 which groove is of the proper 48 and down the inside Wall of 3,8, the spiral4` groove 39, in conjunction with packing vgland 35, will prevent any egress. A saucer-shaped metal plate 41, mounted at the end of extension 8, tends to prevent any leakage inward of water or mud that may splash against the end of the extension.

The present axle acts automatically, by the operation of the differential mechanism, to pass lubricant copiously through the forward extension in which the driving shaft is mounted and thus positively supply lubricant to the bearings for this driving'shaft, and has been found in practice to completely remedy the former fault of lack of lubrication for the driving shaft bearings, while entirely preventing an leakage at the end of the extension 8 of t e cover plate. Most a'xles allow the passage of some lubricant at this oint, but the resent construction has been ound to entirey prevent any leakage either of lubricant out of the housing, or of water or mud into the housing around the shaft at -this point, and this result is due to my return passage to the housing from a point forward of this bearing, to the capacity of this passage and to the lubricant-retaining means at thek forward end of the extension .on the housing.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may beemployed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated b any of the following claims or the equiva ent of such stated means be employed.

I claim as my invention 1. In an axle of the character described, the combination ofan enlarged housing, a cover plate therefor provided with Va tubular extension, bearings mounted in spaced relation in said extension, a shaft mounted in said bearings, means for conveying lubricant from said housing to said extension between said bearin s, ysaid bearings being adapted to permit lu ricant to fiow therethrough longitudinally of said extension, and said extension having a separate passage extending from said housing to a point beyond the most distant of said two bearings to return lubricant passing therethrough. Y y 2. In an axle of the character described, the combination of an enlarged housing, a cover plate therefor provided with a tubular extenslon, bearings mounted in spaced relation in said extension, a shaft mounted in said bearings, means for conveying lubricant from said housing to said extension between said bearings, said bearings being adapted to permit lubricant to flow therethrough lonitudinally of said extension, said extension aving a separate passage extending from said housing to a point beyond the most distant of said two bearings to return lubricant passing therethrough, and said passage having a fiow .capacity at least equal to that of the adjacent bearing.

3. In an axle of the character described,

the combination of Aan enlarged housing, a

cover plate therefor provided with a tubular extension, spaced anti-friction bearings mounted in said extension, means for conveying lubricant freely from said housing to said extension, and means for returning to said housing lubricant passing through each of said bearings, the combined capacity of the flow of lubricant through said bearings being less than the flow capacity of said means for conveying lubricant to said extension, whereby an excess of lubricant will be maintained between said bearings and a pressure created' to flush the lubricant therethrou h.

4. n an axle construction the combination of a drivin gear housin and a tubular extension projectin there rom, a plurality of bearings mounte in spaced relation in said tubular extension, a shaft mounted in said bearings, means for conveying lubricant from said housing to said extension between saidI ings, means for `conveying lubricant from said housing to said extension between said bearings, said bearings being adapted to permit` lubricant to flow therethrough longitudinally of said extension and means forming a separate passage extending `from said housing to a point inl said extension beyond the most distant of said plurality of bearings to return .lubricant passing therethrough, said passage having a flow capacity at least equal to that of the adjacent bearing.

6. In an axle construction the combination i of a driving gear housing having a tubular extension proJecting therefrom, s aced antifriction bearings 'mounted in sai extension, means for conveying lubricant freely from said housing to said extension, and means for returning to said housing lubricant passing through each of said bearings, the combined capaclty of iow of lubricant through said bearings being less than the fiow capacity of said means for conveying lubricant tofsaid extension whereby an excess of lubricant willy be maintainedbetween such bearings and a pressure created to Hush lubricant therethrough.

7 In an axle construction the combination of a drivin gear housin and a tubular extension proJecting there rom, a plurality of bearings mounted in spaced relation in said tubular extension, a shaft mounted in said bearings, said/bearings being adapted to permit lubricant to flow therethrough longitudinally of said extension, means for' conveying y z i lubricant to said extension between saidY plui Vrality of bearings from a point vin the housing above said shaft, and means forming a separate passage below the'shaft and extending fromvsaid extension at a point beyond f the most distant'of said plurality of bearings to said housing to return-lubricant passing through said bearing. f

8. In an axle construction 'the cor'nbinationv of a driving gear housing and a tubular extension projecting therefrom, two bearings V- mounted in ,spacedrelati'on-in said tubular` extension, a lubricant chamber between said barings,` a shaftmounted in said bearings,

g said bearings being adapted to permitlubri` cant to ilow therethrouvh longltudinally of said extension, means For conveying lubricant tosaid lubricant chamber from a point in the housing rabove said shaft and means forming a separate passage below the shaft and extending from said extension at a point y beyond the most distant of said two bearings A to said housing to return lubricant passing through said bearing.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set 12th day of May, 1932.

my hand this .Y Y GEORGE W. HARPER. 

